Team Leics Clean up at Gloucester U19

As the new season begins in earnest, the first U19 bronze event of the year saw several of the older Team Leics players make the trip to Cheltenham on Sunday 17th September, including Eve Dale, Tom Cowperthwaite, Marcus Kilby, Izzy Pike and Jess Rodgers.

With singles up first, Tom showed early season form by winning his box easily before overcoming the top seed in a very close fought quarter-final. In a tough semi, Tom just lost out to the #3 seed but a well-earned bronze medal nonetheless. In the ladies singles it was a similar story for Jess Rodgers who won her box without dropping a set before being knocked out in the quarters in the closest of games against the #2 seed.

With mixed doubles next, Izzy Pike with her scratch Devon partner won their box easily but were unable to overcome a solid Sussex pair in the quarter-finals losing in the 3rd set to 17. Tom and partner Maisie went one better; having won their box they progressed straight to the semi-finals where they lost the closest of matches to the Sussex pair 22-24 23-25 but another bronze medal for Tom! However, Eve Dale with regular Lancs partner Danny had no such trouble, storming their way through the draw with Eve dominating proceedings at the net and powering their way to the gold medal without dropping a set.

With just the level doubles left to play, Izzy & Jess beat the #2 seeds to comfortably win their box without dropping a set. Having dispatched their semi-final opponents in similar fashion, the final was an almost all-Leicestershire affair, facing Eve in her second final of the day, although today having to play with a new partner after her usual partner had to drop out. In a tight and very tense final, Izzy and Jess used their teamwork well to take the win and the gold medal! Team Leics players headed home having made a great start to the season with a tally of 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.